Cleaner

ABSTRACT

A cleaner includes: a suction unit; a suction motor that generates suction force for sucking air through the suction unit and includes an impeller; a dust separation unit that includes one or more cyclone units generating cyclonic flow to separate dust from air flowing inside through the suction unit; a dust container that stores dust separated by the dust separation unit and is disposed under the suction motor; a battery disposed behind the dust container to supply power to the suction motor; and a handle disposed behind the suction motor, wherein a rotational axis of the impeller and an axis of the cyclonic flow vertically extend and an extension line from the rotational axis of the impeller passes through the one or more cyclone units.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2016-0039814, filed in Korea on Mar. 31, 2016, andKorean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0070220, filed in Korea on Jun. 7,2016, whose entire disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a cleaner.

Cleaners may be classified into a manual cleaner that a user moves inperson for cleaning and an automatic cleaner that automatically movesfor cleaning.

Manual cleaners may fall into, depending on the types, a canistercleaner, an upright cleaner, a handy cleaner, and a stick cleaner.

Meanwhile, in the related art, a handheld vacuum cleaner has beendisclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-1127088 (registered on 8 Mar. 2012).

The handheld vacuum cleaner includes a suction pipe, an airflowgenerator, a cyclone, a power supply, and a handle.

The cyclone is disposed between the handle and the suction pipe, theairflow generator is disposed right over the handle, and the powersupply is disposed right under the handle. Accordingly, the airflowgenerator and the power supply are disposed behind the cyclone.

The airflow generator and the power supply are relatively heavy parts ofthe components.

According to this document, since the relatively heavy airflow generatorand power supply are disposed right over and under the handle,respectively, the center of gravity concentrates on the handle in theentire handheld vacuum cleaner, so it is inconvenient for a user to usethe handheld vacuum cleaner and the user's wrist may be injured.

Further, according to the document, since the airflow generator isdisposed behind the cyclone, the channel for guiding air from thecyclone to the airflow generator is necessarily long and the airdischarged from the cyclone is sent to the airflow generator with theflow direction changed, which causes a large flow loss.

Further, according to the document, since the airflow generator isdisposed right over the handle, the air discharged from the airflowgenerator directly touches the hand holding the handle.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a cleaner that users can moreconveniently use by distributing the overall weight.

The present disclosure provides a cleaner in which the length of apassage from a dust separation unit to a suction motor is minimized.

The present disclosure provides a cleaner that does not discharge airthat has passed through a suction motor to a user.

A cleaner includes: a suction unit; a suction motor that generatessuction force for sucking air through the suction unit and includes arotary impeller; a dust separation unit that includes one or morecyclone units generating cyclonic flow to separate dust from air flowinginside through the suction unit; a dust container that stores dustseparated by the dust separation unit and is disposed under the suctionmotor; a battery disposed behind the dust container to supply power tothe suction motor; and a handle disposed behind the suction motor,wherein a rotational axis of the impeller and an axis of the cyclonicflow vertically extend and an extension line from the rotational axis ofthe impeller passes through the one or more cyclone units.

A cleaner includes: a suction unit; a suction motor that generatessuction force for sucking air through the suction unit and includes arotary impeller; a dust separation unit that includes one or morecyclone units generating cyclonic flow to separate dust from air flowinginside through the suction unit; a dust container that stores dustseparated by the dust separation unit; a battery that supplies power tothe suction motor; a handle disposed behind the suction motor; and adischarge cover that has air exits formed through the top thereof todischarge air that has passed through the suction motor, wherein an axisof the cyclonic flow passes through the discharge cover.

A cleaner includes: a suction unit that has a longitudinal axis; asuction motor that generates suction force for sucking air through thesuction unit; a dust separation unit disposed to vertically overlap thesuction motor in a state in which the longitudinal axis of the suctionunit horizontally is positioned, and separates dust from air flowinginside through the suction unit; a dust container that has includes adust collection body for storing dust separated from the dust separationunit and a body cover for opening and closing the dust collection body;and air exits for discharging air that has passed through the suctionmotor, wherein in a state in which the longitudinal axis of the suctionunit is horizontally positioned, the longitudinal axis of the suctionunit is positioned over the body cover and the direction in which air issucked through the suction unit crosses the direction in which air isdischarged through the air exits.

A cleaner includes: a suction unit; a suction motor that generatessuction force for sucking air through the suction unit; a dustseparation unit that separates dust from air flowing inside through thesuction unit; a dust container that stores dust separated by the dustseparation unit; a battery that supplies power to the suction motor; ahandle disposed behind the suction motor; and air exits that aredisposed over the suction motor to discharge air that has passed throughthe suction motor.

The suction motor vertically overlaps the dust separation unit.

The suction motor includes a rotary impeller and a rotational axis ofthe impeller vertically extends and vertically overlaps the dustseparation unit and the dust container.

The suction motor includes a rotary impeller and the rotational axis ofthe impeller vertically extends, and an extension line from therotational axis passes through the dust separation unit and the dustcontainer.

The dust separation unit has one or more cyclone unit that generatescyclonic flow, and the rotational axis of the impeller and an axis of atleast one cyclonic flow are positioned on the same line.

The cleaner further includes: a motor housing that receives the suctionmotor; and a discharge cover that is at least partially positioned overthe motor housing and has the air exits.

The discharge cover includes a flow guide for discharging air dischargedthrough the air exits at an angle from a vertical line.

The suction motor includes a rotary impeller, wherein an axis of theimpeller vertically extends, and a barrier for blocking air dischargedthrough the air exits is disposed in at least some area between therotational axis of the impeller and the handle.

The cleaner further includes: a pre-filter that filters air dischargedfrom the dust separation unit before the air flows into the suctionmotor; and an air guide that surrounds the suction motor in the motorhousing and guides the air discharged from the dust separation unit tothe suction motor.

The air discharged from the dust separation unit flows upward throughthe pre-filter, the air that has passed through the pre-filter flowsback downward through the suction motor, and the air that has passedthrough the suction motor flows upward again and is discharged outsidethrough the air exits.

Air discharged from the dust separation unit flows upward through thesuction motor and is then discharged to the outside through the airexits.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaner according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the cleaner according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the cleaner according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cleaner according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the cleaner according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view when a discharge cover and filters have been separatedin the cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a structure for receiving a HEPA (HighEfficiency Particulate Air) filter in the discharge cover.

FIG. 8 is a view showing airflow in the cleaner according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a lower structure of the cleaner according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a body cover according to an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a view showing the body cover that has been rotated from thestate in FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a view when a battery according to an embodiment of thepresent invention has been separated from a battery housing.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the battery according to an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a coupling groove of a battery housingaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a view when the cleaner equipped with a suction nozzle isused to sweep a floor.

FIG. 16 is a view showing a cleaner according to another embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 17 is a view showing airflow in a cleaner according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a view showing airflow in a cleaner according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Itshould be noted that when components in the drawings are designated byreference numerals, the same components have the same reference numeralsas far as possible even though the components are illustrated indifferent drawings. Further, in description of embodiments of thepresent disclosure, when it is determined that detailed descriptions ofwell-known configurations or functions disturb understanding of theembodiments of the present disclosure, the detailed descriptions will beomitted.

Also, in the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure,the terms such as first, second, A, B, (a) and (b) may be used. Each ofthe terms is merely used to distinguish the corresponding component fromother components, and does not delimit an essence, an order or asequence of the corresponding component. It should be understood thatwhen one component is “connected”, “coupled” or “joined” to anothercomponent, the former may be directly connected or jointed to the latteror may be “connected”, coupled” or “joined” to the latter with a thirdcomponent interposed therebetween.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaner according to an embodiment ofthe present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the cleaner according toan embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a plan view of thecleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the cleaner according to anembodiment of the present invention and FIG. 5 is a horizontalcross-sectional view of the cleaner according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a cleaner 1 according to an embodiment of thepresent invention may include a main body 2.

The main body 2 may include a suction unit 5 that sucks air containingdust.

The main body 2 may further include a dust separation unit 10 forseparating dust sucked inside through the suction unit 5 and a dustcontainer 50 for storing dust separated by the dust separation unit 10.

The dust separation unit 10 may include a first cyclone unit 110 thatcan separate dust, for example, using cyclonic flow.

The first cyclonic unit section 110 may communicate with the suctionunit 5.

The air and dust sucked through the suction unit 5 helically flow alongthe inner side of the first cyclone unit 110.

The axis A2 of the cyclonic flow in the first cyclone unit 110 mayvertically extend.

The dust separation unit 10 may further include a second cyclone unit130 that secondarily separates dust from the air discharged out of thefirst cyclone unit 110. The second cyclone unit 130 may be disposedinside the first cyclone unit 110 to minimize the size of the dustseparation unit 10. The second cyclone unit 130 may include a pluralityof cyclone bodies arranged in a raw. Further the axis of the cyclonicflow in the cyclone bodies vertically extends and may pass through asuction motor 230.

As another example, the dust separation unit may include one cycloneunit, in which the axis A2 of the cyclonic flow may also verticallyextend.

The dust container 50 may include a cylindrical dust collection body 510and a body cover 502 rotatably coupled to the bottom of the dustcollection body 510.

In this embodiment, the upper portion of the dust collection body 510may function as the first cyclone unit 110 without a separate firstcyclone unit 110.

At least a portion of the second cyclone unit 130 may be positionedinside the dust container 50.

A dust storage guide 504 that guides the dust separated by the secondcyclone unit 130 to be stored may be disposed in the dust collectingbody 510. The dust storage guide 504 may be coupled to the bottom of thesecond cyclone unit 130 in contact with the top of the body cover 520.

The dust storage guide 504 may divide the internal space of the dustcollecting body 10 into a first dust storage part 502 where the dustseparated by the first cyclone unit 110 is stored and a second duststorage part 506 where the dust separated by the second cyclone unit 130is stored.

The internal space of the dust storage guide 504 is the second duststorage part 506 and the space between the dust storage guide 504 andthe dust collecting body 10 is the first dust storage part 502.

The body cover 520 can open/close both of the first dust storage part502 and the second dust storage part 506.

The body cover 520 may include a rib 521 for preventing the dust in thefirst dust storage part 502 from being rotated by cyclonic flow. The rib521 may extend upward from the body cover 520. The rib 521 may bepositioned close to the inner side of the dust collection body 510 whenthe body cover 520 covers the first and second dust storage parts 502and 506.

The cyclonic flow is generated along the inner side of the dustcollection body 510 in the first dust storage part 502, so when the rib521 is positioned close to the inner side of the dust collection body510, the cyclonic flow is blocked by the rib 521, whereby it is possibleto prevent the dust from rotating in the first dust storage part 502.

The main body 2 may further include a suction force generation unit 20for generating suction force. The suction force generation unit 20 mayinclude a motor housing 210 and a suction motor 230 disposed in themotor housing 210.

At least a portion of the suction motor 230 may be disposed over thedust separation unit 10. Accordingly, the suction motor 230 is disposedover the dust container 50.

That is, the dust separation unit 10 may be arranged to verticallyoverlap the suction motor 230, in a state in which the longitudinal axisof the suction unit 5 is positioned in the horizontal direction. Forexample, a portion of the suction motor 230 may be positioned in thefirst cyclone unit 110.

The bottom of the suction motor 230 may be connected to the top of thesecond cyclone unit 130. Accordingly, the axis A2 of the cyclonic flowin the dust separation unit 10 may pass through the suction motor 230.The suction motor 230 is positioned higher than the longitudinal axis A3of the suction unit 5.

When the suction motor 230 is disposed over the second cyclone unit 130,the air discharged from the second cyclone unit 130 can flow directly tothe suction motor 230, so the channel between the dust separation unit10 and the suction motor 230 can be minimized.

The suction motor 230 may include a rotary impeller 232. The impeller232 may be fitted on a shaft 233. The shaft 233 is vertically disposedand may be at least partially positioned in the dust separation unit 10.In this case, when the dust container 50 and the suction motor 230 arevertically arranged, the height of the cleaner 1 can be reduced. Anextension line from a rotational axis A1 of the impeller 232 (which maybe the axis of the suction motor) may pass the dust separation unit 10and the dust container 50.

The rotational axis A1 of the impeller 232 and the axis A2 of thecyclonic flow in the first cyclone unit 110 may be on the same line.

According to the present invention, there is the advantage that the paththrough which the air discharged from the dust separation unit, that is,the air discharged upward from the second cyclone unit 130 flows to thesuction motor 230 can be reduced and a change in direction of air can bedecreased, so a loss of airflow can be reduced.

As the loss of airflow is reduced, suction force can be increased andthe lifetime of the battery 40 for supplying power to the suction motor230 can be increased.

A PCB 250 for controlling the suction motor 230 may be disposed betweenthe suction motor 230 and the second cyclone unit 130.

The cleaner 1 may further include a handle 30 for a user to hold and abattery 40 for supplying power to the suction motor 230.

The handle 30 may be disposed behind the suction motor 20. Accordingly,the axis of the suction motor 230 may be positioned between the suctionunit 5 and the handle 30.

As for directions, with respect to the suction motor 230 in the cleaner1, the direction in which the suction unit 5 is positioned is the frontdirection and the direction in which the handle 30 is positioned is therear direction.

The battery 40 may be disposed under the handle 30. The battery 40 maybe disposed behind the dust container 50.

Accordingly, the suction motor 230 and the battery 40 may be arrangednot to vertically overlap each other and may be disposed at differentheights.

According to the present invention, since the suction motor 230 that isheavy is disposed ahead of the handle 30 and the battery 40 that isheavy is disposed behind the handle 30, so weight can be uniformlydistributed throughout the cleaner 1.

It is possible to prevent injuries to the user's wrist when a usercleans with the handle 30 in his/her hand. That is, since the heavycomponents are distributed at the front and rear portions and atdifferent heights in the cleaner 1, it is possible to prevent the centerof gravity of the cleaner 1 from concentrating on any one side.

Since the battery 40 is disposed under the handle 30 and the suctionmotor 230 is disposed in front of the handle 30, there is no componentover the handle 30. That is, the top of the handle 30 forms a portion ofthe external appearance of the top of the cleaner 1.

Accordingly, it is possible to prevent any component of the cleaner 1from coming in contact with the user's arm while the user cleans withthe handle 30 in his/her hand.

The handle 30 may include a first extension 310 extending vertically tobe held by a user and a second extension 314 extending toward thesuction motor 230 over the first extension 310. The second extension 314may at least partially horizontally extend.

A stopper 312 for preventing a user's hand holding the first extension310 from moving in the longitudinal direction of the first extension 310(vertically in FIG. 2) may be formed on the first extension 310. Thestopper 312 may extend toward the suction motor 230 from the firstextension 310.

The stopper 312 is spaced apart from the second extension 314.Accordingly, a user is supposed to hold the first extension 310, withsome of the fingers over the stopper 312 and the other fingers under thestopper 312.

For example, the stopper 312 may be positioned between the index fingerand the middle finger.

In the present invention, the longitudinal axis A3 of the suction unit 5passes through the first extension 310. The stopper 312 is positionedhigher than the longitudinal axis A3 of the suction unit 5.

According to this arrangement, when a user holds the first extension310, the longitudinal axis A3 of the suction unit 5 may pass through theuser's wrist.

When the longitudinal axis A3 of the suction unit 5 passes through theuser's wrist and the user's arm is stretched, the longitudinal axis A3of the suction unit 5 may be substantially aligned with the user'sstretched arm. Accordingly, there is the advantage in this state thatthe user uses minimum force when pushing or pulling the cleaner 1 withthe handle 30 in his/her hand.

The handle 310 may include an inclined surface 315 where an operationunit 316 is disposed. It is possible to input instructions to turnon/off the cleaner through the operation unit 316. The inclined surface315 may be formed to face a user. For example, the operation unit 380may be formed at the rear side of the second extension 314. Theoperation unit 316 may be disposed opposite to the stopper 312 with thehandle 30 therebetween. The operation unit 316 on the inclined surface315 is positioned higher than the stopper 312.

Accordingly, a user can easily operate the operation unit 390 withhis/her thumb with the first extension 310 in his/her hand.

Further, since the operation unit 316 is positioned outside the firstextension 310, it is possible to prevent the operation unit 316 frombeing unexpectedly operated when a user cleans with the first extension310 in his/her hand.

A display unit 318 for showing operational states may be disposed on thesecond extension 314. The display unit 318 may be, for example, disposedon the top of the second extension 314. Accordingly, a user can easilycheck the display unit 314 on the top of the second extension 318 whilecleaning.

The display unit 318, though not limited, may include a plurality oflight emitting devices. The light emitting devices may be spaced apartfrom each other in the longitudinal direction of the second extension314.

A battery housing 410 is disposed under the handle 30 and the battery 40is received in the battery housing 410. That is, the battery housing 410is disposed under the first extension 310.

The battery 40 may be detachably combined with the battery housing 60.For example, the battery 40 may be inserted into the battery housing 60from under the battery housing 60.

A heat discharge hole 412 for discharging heat from the battery 40 tothe outside may be formed through the battery housing 410.

The rear side of the battery housing 410 and the rear side of the firstextension 310 may form a continuous surface. Accordingly, the batteryhousing 410 and the first extension 310 can be shown like a single unit.

Referring to FIG. 3, the cleaner 1 may further include a discharge cover211 having air exits 212 for discharging the air that has passed throughthe suction motor 230.

A HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter 246 for filtering airmay be disposed in the discharge cover 211. The axis of the cyclonicflow may pass through the discharge cover 211.

The air exits 212, for example, may be arranged around the rotary shaft233 of the impeller 232. The discharge cover 210 has a flow guide 213 sothat the air to be discharged through the air exits 212 is discharged atan angle from the rotary shaft A1 of the impeller 232. The direction inwhich air is sucked through the suction unit 5 crosses the direction inwhich air is discharged through the air exits 212.

An air exit may not be formed at least in some area between the rotaryshaft 233 of the impeller 232 and the handle 30 in FIG. 3 to prevent theair discharged from the air exits 212 from flowing to a user. That is,assuming that the cleaner is divided to the front and rear from the axisA2 of the cyclonic flow, some of the air exits 212 is positioned aheadof the axis A2 of the cyclonic flow.

As another example, referring to FIG. 3, a barrier for stopping airdischarged from the air exits 212 may be disposed at least in some areabetween the rotary axis A1 of the impeller 232 and the handle 30.

FIG. 6 is a view when a discharge cover and filters have been separatedin the cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention iscombined with the flow guide and FIG. 7 is a view showing a structurefor receiving a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter in thedischarge cover.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the cleaner 1 may further include apre-filter 242 for filtering air flowing into the suction motor 230.

The pre-filter 242 may be disposed to surround a portion of the suctionmotor 230. The rotary shaft A1 of the impeller 232 may pass through thepre-filter 242.

The air that has passed through the pre-filter 242 flows to the impeller232 inside the suction motor 230 and then passes through the suctionmotor 230. Further, the air passes through the HEPA filter 246 and thenfinally can be discharged outside through the air exits 212.

It should be noted that although the cleaner 1 includes the pre-filter242 and the HEPA filter 246 in the present invention, the type andnumber of the filters are not limited. In this specification, thepre-filter 242 may be called a first filter and the HEPA filter 246 maybe called a second filter.

The discharge cover 211 may include a receiving portion 214 forreceiving the HEPA filter 246. The filter receiving portion 214 is opendownward, so the HEPA filter 246 can be inserted into the receivingportion 214 from under the discharge cover 211.

Further, the air exits 212 of the discharge cover 211 face the HEPAfilter 246.

When being inserted in the receiving portion 214, the HEPA filter 246 iscovered by the filter cover 244. The filter cover 244 has one or moreholes 244 a for passing air. The filter cover 244 may be detachablycoupled to the discharge cover 211.

The discharge cover 211 may be separably combined with the motor housing210. Accordingly, it is possible to separate the discharge cover 211from the motor housing 210 to clean the HEPA filter 246. It is possibleto take the HEPA filter 246 out of the receiving portion 214 byseparating the filter cover 244 from the discharge cover 211 separatedfrom the motor housing 210.

In a state in which the discharge cover 211 is separated from the motorhousing 210, the pre-filter 242 can be exposed to the outside.Accordingly, a user can clean the pre-filter 242 after separating thepre filter 242 exposed to the outside from the motor housing 210.

According to the present invention, a user can reach the HEPA filter 246and the pre-filter 242 by separating the discharge cover 211 from themotor housing 210, he/she can easily separate and clean the filters 242and 246.

FIG. 8 is a view showing airflow in the cleaner according to anembodiment of the present invention.

The airflow in the cleaner 1 is described with reference to FIG. 8.

Air and dust sucked through the suction unit 5 by the suction motor 230are separated from each other while flowing along the inner side of thefirst cyclone unit 110.

The dust separated from the air drops into the first dust storage part502. The air separated from the dust flows into the second cyclone unit130. The air flowing in the second cyclone unit 130 is separated againfrom dust.

The dust separated from the air in the second cyclone unit 130 dropsinto the second dust storage part 506. On the other hand, the airseparated from the dust in the second cyclone unit 130 is dischargedupward to the suction motor 230 from the second cyclone unit 130.

An air guide 215 for guiding the air discharged from the second cycloneunit 130 to the pre-filter 242 may be disposed outside the suction motor230. The air guide 215 surrounds the outer side of the suction motor 230and may be at least partially spaced apart from the suction motor 230.

Accordingly, air flows upward along the air guide 215 outside thesuction motor 230 and then passes through the pre filter 242. The airthat has passed through the pre-filter 242 passes through the suctionmotor 230. The air is discharged to an exhaust channel 216 between theair guide 215 and the motor housing 210 after flowing in the suctionmotor 230 by the impeller 232.

The air discharged into the exhaust channel 216 passes through the HEPAfilter 246 and is then discharged to the outside through the air exits212 of the discharge cover 211.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a lower structure of the cleaner according toan embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 10 is a perspective view ofa body cover according to an embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 11 is a view showing the body cover that has been rotated from thestate in FIG. 9.

Referring to FIGS. 9 to 11, the body cover 520 can open/close the bottomof the dust collection body 510 by rotating.

The body cover 520 may include a hinge 522 for rotating. The hinge 522may be coupled to the dust collection body 510 or to a separate hingecoupling portion 420 on the dust collection body 510. When the hingecoupling portion 420 is formed separately from the dust collection body510, the hinge coupling portion 420 may be coupled to the dustcollection body 510.

The hinge 522 of the body cover 520 may be positioned between the axisA2 of the cyclonic flow and the battery 40.

Accordingly, when the body cover 520 is rotated about the hinge 522, thebody cover 520 is rotated toward a user, as in FIG. 11.

After the body cover 520 is rotated toward a user, the body cover 520prevents dust from flying to the user when the dust in the dustcollection body 510 drops.

The body cover 520 may include a coupling lever 550 that can be moved bya user and is coupled to the dust collection body 510. The couplinglever 550 may be coupled in parallel with the longitudinal axis A3 ofthe suction unit 5.

The body cover 520 may include a first guide 524 that can guide thecoupling lever 550 and prevents the coupling lever 550 from separatingdownward. The first guide 524 extends downward from the body cover 520and at least a portion of the first guide 524 is positioned under thecoupling lever 550.

The body cover 520 may further include a second guide 526 that can guidethe coupling lever 550 and prevents the coupling lever 550 fromseparating downward. The second guide 526 protrudes from a side of thebody cover 520 and may pass through the coupling lever 550.

The second guide 526 may pass through the coupling lever 550 in parallelwith the longitudinal axis A3 of the suction unit 5. A hole 556 for thesecond guide 554 may be formed in the coupling lever 550.

The coupling lever 552 may have a ring-shaped portion 552 for a user toeasily operate the coupling lever 550 by putting a finger in it. Thering-shaped portion 552 may be positioned between the hinge 522 of thebody cover 520 and the axis A2 of the cyclonic flow so that a user caneasily reach the ring-shaped portion 552.

The coupling lever 550 includes a coupling hook 556 and the dustcollection body 510 may include a hook slot 514 for locking the couplinghook 556.

The coupling hook 556 may be locked to the hook slot 514 inside the dustcollection body 510. Though not shown in the figures, an elastic memberthat applies elasticity to the coupling lever 550 to maintain thecoupling hook 556 locked in the hook slot 514 may be disposed betweenthe body cover 520 and the coupling lever 550.

When a user pulls the ring-shaped portion 552 of the coupling lever 500toward himself/herself, the coupling hook 556 is pulled out of the hookslot 514, so the body cover 520 can be rotated.

On the other hand, the hinge coupling portion 420 may include main bodyterminals 600 for charging the battery 40 in the battery housing 410. Itis possible to bring charging stand terminals in contact with the mainbody terminals 600 by placing the cleaner 1 on a charging stand (notshown).

The main body terminals 600 are disposed on the bottom of the hingecoupling portion 420, but can be spaced apart from the floor when thecleaner 1 is placed on the floor. Accordingly, damage to the main bodyterminal 600 can be prevented.

FIG. 12 is a view when a battery according to an embodiment of thepresent invention has been separated from a battery housing, FIG. 13 isa perspective view of the battery according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, and FIG. 14 is a view showing a coupling groove of abattery housing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 9, and 12 to 14, the battery may include batterycells (not shown) and a frame 450 protecting the battery cells.

A protrusion 460 is formed on the top of the frame 450 and terminals 462may be disposed in the protrusion 460.

The battery 40 may include a plurality of coupling portions 470 and 480.

The coupling portions 470 and 480 may include a first coupling portion470 disposed on a first side of the frame 450 and a second couplingportion 480 disposed on a second side of the frame 450. The firstcoupling portion 470 and the second coupling portion 480, for example,may be positioned opposite to each other.

The first coupling portion 470 may be a hook rotatably coupled to theframe 450.

The first coupling portion 470, for example, may be coupled to the hingecoupling portion 420 when the battery 40 is inserted in the batteryhousing 410. Accordingly, the hinge coupling portions 420 may be calledas battery coupling portions.

A locking rib 422 for locking a portion of the hinge coupling portion470 may be formed on the hinge coupling portion 420.

As another example, the hinge coupling portion 420 may be integrallyformed with the battery housing 410 or the locking rib 422 may be formedon the battery housing 410.

The second coupling portion 480 may be a hook that is integrally formedwith the frame 450 and can be deformed by external force.

An opening 411 for inserting the battery 40 is formed at the bottom ofthe battery housing 410. An exposing opening 415 for exposing the secondcoupling portion 480 to the outside may be formed so that the secondcoupling portion 480 can be operated with the battery 40 in the batteryhousing 410.

A coupling groove 416 for coupling the second coupling portion 480 maybe formed over the exposing opening 415 in the battery housing 410.

A space 530 for operating the first coupling portion 470 is definedbetween the dust container 50 and the first coupling portion 470 whenthe battery 40 is inserted in the battery housing 410.

Accordingly, a user can put a finger into the space 530 and unlock thelocking rib 422 from the first coupling portion 470. Further, the usercan unlock the second coupling portion 480 from the battery housing 410by operating the second coupling portion 480 exposed to the outside ofthe battery housing 410.

According to the present invention, since the battery 40 can beseparated from the battery housing 410, it is possible to place only thebattery 40 on the charging stand to charge it.

Further, since the cleaner 1 includes the main body terminal 600, it ispossible to charge the battery 4 by placing the cleaner 1 on thecharging stand with the battery 40 in the battery housing 410.

FIG. 15 is a view when the cleaner equipped with a suction nozzle isused to sweep a floor.

Referring to FIG. 15, an extension pipe 700 having a nozzle 710extending from the lower end may be connected to the suction unit 5 ofthe cleaner 1 of the present invention.

In this state, a user can clean by moving the suction nozzle 710 on thefloor.

When a user cleans using the suction nozzle 710 in the presentinvention, he/she can clean while changing the angle between theextension pipe 70 and the floor changing from about 45 degrees.

The suction motor 230 and the battery 40 may be positioned opposite toeach other with a vertical line VL, which passes through the lowermostend of the dust container 50, therebetween. That is, the suction motor230 is positioned at a side from the vertical line VL (for example,ahead of the vertical line VL) and the battery 40 is positioned at theother side (for example, behind the vertical line VL). The vertical lineVL may pass through the handle 30.

Further, the heights of the suction motor 230 and the battery 40 fromthe floor are almost the same in the state shown in FIG. 15.

Accordingly, when a user holds the handle 30 and sweeps a floor, theweight of the cleaner is balanced throughout the front and rear sidesfrom the user's hand holding the handle, thereby maintaining weightbalance. In this case, the user can clean using the cleaner 1 with smallforce and injuries that may be applied to the user's wrist can beprevented.

Further, in the process of sweeping the floor, as in FIG. 15, thedischarge cover 211 is positioned ahead of the vertical line VL and theuser's hand holding the handle is positioned behind the vertical lineVL. Accordingly, the air discharged through the discharge cover 211flows away from the handle 30, so it is possible to prevent the airdischarged through the discharge cover 211 from flowing to the user'shand.

Obviously, only a portion of the suction motor 30 may be positionedopposite to the battery 40 with the vertical line VL therebetween,depending on the angle between the extension pipe 700 and the floor.This case corresponds to cases when sweeping specific spaces such aswindow frames or couches.

FIG. 16 is a view showing a cleaner according to another embodiment ofthe present invention.

This embodiment is the same as the previous embodiment except for theshape of the discharge cover. Accordingly, only characteristic parts ofthis embodiment are described hereafter.

Referring to FIG. 16, a discharge cover 211 a in this embodiment mayhave flow guides 213 a for guiding air to be discharged.

In detail, a plurality of flow guides 213 a is arranged with gaps in thecircumferential direction of the discharge cover 211 a. The spacesbetween the flow guides 213 a function as air exits 212 a.

The flow guides 213 a may be inclined from a vertical line.

According to this embodiment, similarly, it is possible to prevent theair discharged from the air exits 212 a from flowing to a user while theuser cleans using a suction nozzle.

Further, the discharge cover 211 a is disposed at the top of thecleaner, so it is possible to prevent dust around the cleaner fromflying due to the air discharged from the air exits 212 a.

FIG. 17 is a view showing airflow in a cleaner according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

This embodiment is the same as the previous embodiment except for thestructure of the storage guide. Accordingly, only characteristic partsof this embodiment are described hereafter.

Referring to FIG. 17, a dust storage guide 504 of this embodiment may atleast partially taper downward. For example, a portion of the upperportion of the dust flow guide 504 may taper downward.

Further, the dust storage guide 504 may have an anti-flying rib 504 aextending downward from the upper end of the dust storage guide 504. Theanti-flying rib 504 a may be formed, for example, in a cylindrical shapeand may surround the upper portion of the dust storage guide 504.

Since the upper portion of the dust storage guide 504 tapers downward, aspace is defined between the outer side of the upper portion of the duststorage guide 504 and the anti-flying rib 504 a.

As described in the previous embodiment, the cyclonic flow generatedalong the inner side of the dust collection body 510 may move down. Whenthe cyclonic flow comes in contact with the rib 521 on the body cover520 while moving down, the rotating flow can be changed into rising flowby the rib 521. If there is rising flow in the first dust storage part502, the dust in the first dust storage part 502 flies upward and flowsbackward into the second cyclone unit 130.

According to the present invention, rising flow in the first duststorage part 502 is changed into falling flow by the anti-flying rib 504a in the space between the anti-flying rib 504 a and the upper portionof the dust storage guide 504, so the dust in the first dust storagepart 502 does not fly upward and accordingly it does not flow backwardinto the second cyclone unit 130.

Further, since the rib 504 a extends downward from the upper end of thedust storage guide 504, the dust separated by the cyclonic flow in thefirst cyclone unit 110 can be smoothly sent into the first dust storagepart 502 by the anti-flying rib 504 a.

FIG. 18 is a view showing airflow in a cleaner according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

This embodiment is the same as the previous embodiments except for theposition of the impeller in the suction motor. Accordingly, onlycharacteristic parts of this embodiment are described hereafter.

Referring to FIGS. 8 to 18, a suction motor 230 a of this embodiment isdisposed in a motor housing, with an impeller 232 a at a lower portiontherein. That is, the suction motor 230 a may be positioned with an airinlet facing the second cyclone unit 130.

According to this embodiment, the air discharged from the second cycloneunit 130 directly flow upward to the impeller 232 a and the air that haspassed through the impeller 232 a keeps flowing upward, whereby it canbe discharged out of the cleaner.

According to the arrangement of the suction motor, the channel for theair that is discharged out of the cleaner from the second cyclone unit130 is minimized, so a flow loss is minimized.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cleaner comprising: a suction unit; a suctionmotor that includes an impeller and is configured to generate suctionforce to thereby suction air through the suction unit; a dust separationunit that is configured to separate dust from air suctioned through thesuction unit, the dust separation unit including one or more cycloneunits that are configured to generate cyclonic flow for separating dustfrom the suctioned air; a dust container that is disposed verticallyunder the suction motor and configured to receive the dust separated bythe dust separation unit; a battery disposed at a rear portion of thecleaner at a position rearward of the dust container and configured tosupply power to the suction motor; and a handle disposed at the rearportion of the cleaner at a position rearward of the suction motor,wherein a rotational axis of the impeller extends in a verticaldirection and is oriented parallel with an axis of the cyclonic flow,the rotational axis of the impeller passing through the one or morecyclone units.
 2. The cleaner of claim 1, wherein the axis of thecyclonic flow passes through the suction motor.
 3. The cleaner of claim1, wherein the axis of the cyclonic flow is aligned with the rotationalaxis of the impeller.
 4. The cleaner of claim 1, wherein the suctionmotor is disposed vertically above the dust separation unit, and airexits are located vertically above the suction motor and configured todischarge air that has passed through the suction motor.
 5. The cleanerof claim 1, wherein the dust separation unit includes a first cycloneunit having a first cyclonic flow axis and a second cyclone unit havinga second cyclonic flow axis, the second cyclone unit being disposedinside the first cyclone unit, and wherein at least one of the first orsecond cyclonic flow axes passes through the suction motor.
 6. Thecleaner of claim 5, wherein the dust separation unit includes aplurality of the second cyclone units.
 7. The cleaner of claim 5,further comprising a cleaner body that houses the suction motor and thedust separation unit, the suction unit extending horizontally along alongitudinal axis from a front portion of the cleaner body, wherein atleast a portion of the suction motor is positioned vertically above thelongitudinal axis, and wherein the second cyclone unit is positionedvertically below the longitudinal axis.
 8. The cleaner of claim 1,further comprising: a motor housing that accommodates the suction motor;and a discharge cover that defines one or more air exits, at least aportion of the discharge cover being positioned vertically above themotor housing.
 9. The cleaner of claim 8, further comprising: apre-filter that is configured to filter air that is discharged from thedust separation unit and flowing toward the suction motor; and an airguide that is located in the motor housing, that surrounds the suctionmotor, and that is configured to guide the air discharged from the dustseparation unit toward the suction motor.
 10. The cleaner of claim 9,wherein the air discharged from the dust separation unit is directedupward to be filtered by the pre-filter, the air filtered by thepre-filter is directed downward to the suction motor, and the air thathas passed through the suction motor is directed upward to be dischargedoutside through the one or more air exits.
 11. A cleaner comprising: asuction unit; a suction motor that includes an impeller and that isconfigured to generate suction force to thereby suction air through thesuction unit; a dust separation unit that is configured to separate dustfrom air suctioned through the suction unit, the dust separation unitincluding one or more cyclone units that are configured to generatecyclonic flow for separating dust from the suctioned air; a dustcontainer that is configured to receive the dust separated by the dustseparation unit; a battery that is configured to supply power to thesuction motor; a handle disposed at a rear portion of the cleaner at aposition rearward of the suction motor; and a discharge cover disposedat a top surface of the cleaner, the discharge cover defining one ormore air exits that are configured to discharge air that has passedthrough the suction motor, wherein an axis of the cyclonic flow passesthrough the discharge cover.
 12. The cleaner of claim 11, wherein thesuction motor is disposed vertically between the discharge cover and thedust separation unit, and the axis of the cyclonic flow passes throughthe suction motor.
 13. The cleaner of claim 11, wherein at least some ofthe one or more air exits are positioned forward of the axis of thecyclonic flow.
 14. The cleaner of claim 11, wherein the discharge coverincludes a flow guide that is configured to direct the discharged airaway from a user.
 15. The cleaner of claim 11, wherein the suction unitextends along a longitudinal axis from a front portion of the cleaner,and wherein, based on the longitudinal axis of the suction unit beingoriented horizontal to ground, the discharge cover is located verticallyabove the suction motor and the longitudinal axis.
 16. A cleaner havinga cleaner body, the cleaner comprising: a suction unit that extendsalong a longitudinal axis from a front portion of the cleaner body; asuction motor that is configured to generate suction force to therebysuction air through the suction unit; a dust separation unit that isconfigured to separate dust from air suctioned through the suction unit,at least a portion of the dust separation unit being positioned tovertically overlap the suction motor; and a dust container thatincludes: a dust collection body configured to receive the separateddust, and a body cover configured to open and close the dust collectionbody, wherein the cleaner body defines one or more air exits configuredto discharge air that has passed through the suction motor, the airbeing discharged through the one or more air exits in a directiontransverse the longitudinal axis of the suction unit, and wherein, basedon the longitudinal axis of the suction unit being oriented horizontalrelative to ground, the longitudinal axis of the suction unit ispositioned vertically above the body cover.
 17. The cleaner of claim 16,further comprising a motor housing that is configured to receive thesuction motor, wherein at least a portion of the motor housing ispositioned to vertically overlap the dust container, and thelongitudinal axis of the suction unit passes through the overlappingportion.
 18. The cleaner of claim 16, further comprising: a battery thatis configured to supply power to the suction motor; and a handledisposed at a rear portion of the cleaner body, wherein the dustseparation unit is located between the handle and the suction unit. 19.The cleaner of claim 16, wherein, based on the longitudinal axis of thesuction unit being oriented horizontal relative to ground, thelongitudinal axis of the suction unit is positioned vertically above thedust collection body.
 20. The cleaner of claim 16, wherein the bodycover lies along a plane that is parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe suction unit